RENEE RAPP’S BITE ME IS SHARP ENOUGH TO DRAW BLOOD

The ears of pop lovers everywhere were blessed this week. Reneé Rapp’s highly anticipated sophomore album, BITE ME, blends Rapp’s catchy 2000s sass, heartbreak, and rage. Lyrically beautiful and deeply honest, the twelve-song project flows from gentle yet powerful vocal performances to energetic pop-rock, with a steady beat and bassline.

Rapp opens her album with her lead single, “Leave Me Alone”. A catchy, confident introduction to her new era with a 2000s vibe, the single clearly showcases her new self-assured energy, with a strong, compelling chorus. Rapp told her social media followers about how she, “Started f*cking partying,” and she’s bringing that fun to her fans. 

The tone remains strong, but slows down with the next two singles, “Mad” and “Why Is She Still Here?” The powerful vocal performance of “Mad” showcases the true beauty in rage, especially in the pre-chorus. The build-up of frustration is palpable, and anyone who has ever truly cared for another person will understand deeply. The impressive vocals continue into the R&B-esque track “Why Is She Still Here?” The airy vocals mixed with catchy riffs are a punchy response to messy situationships. Rapp’s familiar singles serve as an excellent opening to the album, and listeners can understand the ride they’re in for.

Following the angst of the third single on the album, the heartbreaking piano ballad “Sometimes” brings insecurity into the picture. Reaching the chorus, there are almost hopeful undertones below the situationship devastation. The beat in the second verse is reminiscent of a heartbeat, a real push in a relationship where a partner can’t decide if they want to commit. Lyrically, we see Rapp becoming more regretful, preparing to break things off: “If you’re gonna let me go, let me go.” Everyone’s lights will be up for this one at her shows. 

Pulling us into a more upbeat rhythm after heartache, “Kiss It Kiss It” is confident, cool, and flirty. The synth sounds bring a danceable disco vibe to the song, with a very catchy rhythm. Rapp lets go of the regret in this one, and we hear sparks of a joyful new beginning in her story. 

The synth effect continues with a darker 80s style in “Good Girl”. The choruses have a brighter sound, a much more optimistic energy to contrast with the edgy sound of the verses. Following on from the grief and jealousy in the previous tracks, a happier, more hopeful energy rises. We see the carefree joy that Rapp talked about getting to experience that she hadn’t had so much during her Snow Angel era.

“I Can’t Have You Around Me Anymore” opens with a static crackle and muted guitar, like something you’d find in a coming-of-age movie. The song lyrically illustrates the situation with clarity, though it demonstrates the secrecy of it through the muting and crackling in the production. It depicts a friendship that needs to end because it’s too close for a partner to be comfortable with. The song itself feels like a nostalgic memory, bittersweet and sensitive. Many will relate to the line, “You’ll never be someone I wish that I didn’t know”.

The confident, upbeat-sounding production of “Shy” totally contrasts its lyrics, cleverly highlighting the complexity of liking someone. The playful rhythm combined with the pop-rock vibes could’ve come directly from Y2K in the best way possible. The almost spoken bridge brings a real sense of Rapp’s personality to the track, leading straight back into the catchy chorus.

Driving straight into true carefree confidence, “At Least I’m Hot” is a sparkly disco banger. Rapp’s girlfriend, Towa Bird, is featured in the track during the spoken word part of the second verse, and it really brings a nostalgic pop vibe. Glitzy, campy, and catchy, the song is impossible not to dance along to. 

Stripping right back to a guitar-only first verse, “I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone” brings honest introspection to the album. Rapp reflects further on her own position in a relationship emotionally, and the slower, lightly produced vibe of the song, compared to the previous track, truly brings our attention to her lyrics. 

“That’s So Funny” is truly haunting and beautiful. An eerie piano opens the song with a creaking sound in the background, drawing attention to honest lyrics following a truly broken relationship. The aching tone of the track entirely juxtaposes its title. The echoing vocals are doll-like, and the song feels like an empty ghost house. We feel the wintry cold heartbreak at an even greater strength with Rapp’s powerful vocal build-up at the end of the song; we feel the frustration and pent-up anger with her. 

The album closes with playful pop-rock vibes, with a faster tempo than the previous tracks, more upbeat drums, and guitars. “You’d Like That Wouldn’t You” is energetic and empowering, with a sound that fans of Avril Lavigne will adore. The high energy and realness are an epic closer to an incredible album. 

Reneé Rapp herself described BITE ME as a time capsule of the last two to three years of her life online, and we’re glad she’s taken us along for the ride. It’s clear from her music that through the ups and downs, Rapp knows who she is. By setting out to make the album to impress herself, as she says, Rapp has impressed all her fans and will definitely gain more with her powerful album containing not even one skip.